Online Training Program from SDI Enters Second Phase January 26, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , add a commentI’ve occasionally joked that the business of training divers may eventually go online, and it looks like it might start to happen for real! Following its initial release at the 2005 DEMA Show, Las Vegas, it is now ready for full release to all dealers across North America.
It meets the needs of both scuba Instructors and students who demand a more interactive approach to diver training. “Consumers need learning materials that fall outside the traditional ‘Textbook/Chalk and Talk’ box,” explained David Burroughs, SDI Vice President for Sales and Marketing. “The SDI Online Open Water Diver course reflects exactly what today’s market is calling for, and the Online feature broadens the program’s appeal by making it available to anyone who wants to complete an Open Water Diver course academics at their own pace, following their own timetable, anywhere there is internet access.”
The redesigned program has many new search features for both the consumer and the instructor. Making it easy for the student to review their information and the instructor to search for each student and track his scuba diving progress as he works his way through the course. Distance learning is not a new concept and many colleges and universities are utilizing this approach with great success.
SDI has also released an Electronic Learning Instructor Guide CD-ROM, an essential tool for instructors using the on-line or CD-ROM versions of the SDI Open Water Diver course. The Instructor CD-ROM includes all the materials contained in the student version, plus interactive instructor guides, Power Point presentations, final exams, and quiz and exam answer keys.
Scuba Divers in Oregon can experience the ‘Wet and Wild’ January 26, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , add a commentThe Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering a rare opportunity for intermediate SCUBA divers. “Marine Ecology for the Wet and Wild” is an extraordinary experience for divers who will go into the waters of the Aquarium’s “Passages of the Deep” exhibit, home to hundreds of marine animals. The class is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, and includes a review of the 13 major groups of invertebrates inhabiting Northwest waters.
“We won’t be in the Open Sea Exhibit with the sharks,” Vallorie Hodges, Dive Safety Officer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, says, “but we’ll be right up close to many common - and some uncommon - Pacific Northwest fishes and invertebrates.” Hodges says this is the ideal place for divers to learn about marine life because they would have to log many hours diving in the open water of the Oregon Coast to find and identify the marine life seen in one dive at the aquarium.
In this setting at the aquarium, divers learn in more focused manner. “You see the animals through the acrylic, learn about them in a classroom and then dive into Passages of The Deep at the Aquarium,” Hodges says, “You really get to see them up close and walk away with a solid knowledge of what you see in Pacific Northwest waters.”
The class is led by zoologist Richard Yost and Janna Nichols, a REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) instructor. Hodges says the popular class is fun, too. “Richard and Janna have a great chemistry and they play off each other,” she says. “Richard’s humor and Janna’s diving expertise make it as fun as it is informative.”
Yost uses photos and video clips to highlight the characteristics of the animals and where to find them as well as habitat, behavior and interrelationships. Nichols will focus on fish identification and show the class how to do a REEF fish survey.
“This is a prime Northwest diving experience … seated entry with a tender to help gear up, no currents and crystal clear water. And we guarantee you will see lots of animals,” said Hodges.
New Scuba Diving Liveaboard, Ocean Dancer, Launches To Rave Reviews in the Maldives January 25, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , add a commentLiveaboards are a great way to spend a scuba diving vacation, and the Maldives is definitely a great location. This new liveaboard from Peter Hughes looks like it provides the perfect combination of both.
From divenewswire.com..Based on initial reports from the passengers, the Ocean Dancer is one of the most spectacular live-aboard dive vessels ever constructed, and will “raise” the bar for luxury liveaboard diving worldwide. One passenger could not wait to report back to Peter and called from a satellite phone to say “Ocean Dancer is simply the best live-aboard vessel he has ever seen!” He was so excited about the vessel; he forgot to report on the diving!
Passenger Clare Homfray, gave a more detailed account: “The “Ocean Dancer” is absolutely magnificent! She is a hand-built vessel comprising 5 different types of wood and finished with meticulous thought and care to every detail.”
Ocean Dancer’s owner, David Mesnard, has dedicated the last 3 years of his life to fulfilling a dream to construct his vision. While on board, he shares with his 16 guests an excellent presentation where he shows how the vessel was locally constructed and the challenges he had to face during the process. Homfray went on to describe David’s attention to detail “(Ocean Dancer offers)..comfortable and spacious ensuite rooms with large and powerful showers, not to mention flat-screen televisions. The luxurious lounge and bar area offers a wide choice of cocktails as well as videos. Evident throughout the boat, attractive and restful is the theme reflected in the choice of furnishings! Topside there is plenty of sundeck for sun or shade to suit every whim.”
Sport Diver Publishes New Comprehensive Diving Resource Guide January 25, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , add a commentThis looks like a really useful addition to your scuba diving reading list for 2006. Sport Diver have published their guide for a number of years and this one looks like the biggest yet.
“We’ve got all the hot spots covered, everywhere from the Cayman Islands to Curaçao and Mexico, from Hawaii to Fiji and beyond. Top diving destinations and resorts worldwide are profiled in The World’s Best Diving & Resorts. It’s a one-of-a-kind issue, and it will only get bigger and better each year. Readers are responding, and bookstore sales are already exceeding our expectations,” says Carolyn Pascal-Guarino, publisher of Sport Diver.
The World’s Best Diving & Resorts is organized by geographic region, featuring the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, Exotics and Live-Aboard sections. The consistent format, combining the best possible images with the most useful diving and resort information, gives readers exactly what they need to make the best choice for their next dive travel adventure.
The World’s Best Diving & Resorts offers essential tips, including What to Expect, When to Go, What to Wear, Getting There, Language, Currency, Taxes, Electricity and Time Zone. A map of each location pinpoints the top dive sites, resorts and dive centers. The guide also profiles luxury resorts that offer first-class amenities in addition to a great diving experience. Some of the resorts featured are Westin Resort in St. John, Trader’s Ridge Resort in Micronesia, Pearl Resorts & Spa in Tahiti and the Marriott Beach Resort in the Cayman Islands.
via DiveNewsWire
Mares Introduces Lifetime Service Parts Policy for Scuba Gear January 25, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , 1 comment so farScuba gear is expensive and the cost of maintaining regulators can sometimes be so much that scuba divers are tempted not to maintain their scuba gear as regularly as they should. This new addition to the Mares warranty which effectively gives free service kits throughout the useful lifetime of the regulator.
Mares Diving announces a new Lifetime Service Parts Policy for all Regulators sold in the U.S. and Canada effective January 1st, 2006.
In addition to the Limited Lifetime Warranty offered on all Mares Regulators, Mares will now offer free “Lifetime Service Parts” to all consumers on the purchase of any Mares Regulator sold in the U.S. and Canada. Mares will supply the necessary parts for the annual service of the regulator 1st and 2nd stages at no charge to maintain the Limited Lifetime Warranty, for the useful lifetime of the regulator to the original owner.
“Mares has always been an industry leader in Regulator Technology, the addition of this new policy will reinforce our commitment to a higher level of service for both dealers and consumers” states Phil Mintz, Director of Sales and Marketing, Mares Diving Division of Head USA.
Along with the introduction of the Mares Regulator Lifetime Service Parts Policy, Mares will also offer the opportunity for consumers who purchased a Mares Regulator in 2004 or 2005 the option to upgrade to the new Lifetime Parts Policy for a nominal fee.
All Mares Authorized Dealers have been sent the details on the new Lifetime Service Parts Policy and upgrade.
Scuba Divers save 13 people from overturned ferryboat January 25, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , add a commentThree people died and another 10, including children, were missing after a ferryboat sank Tuesday off Colombia’s Pacific coast, the navy said.
The accident took place before daybreak near the port city of Buenaventura, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of the capital of Bogotá. The cause was unknown, but witnesses told the Colombian Navy the ferryboat was attempting to make a turn at the time of the accident.
Rescue boats and scuba divers saved 13 people.
‘’We don’t know if there are any more survivors yet because scuba divers are searching part of the ship that is overturned,” Adm. Jairo Peña said.
via Associated Press
